Rivelin Rail
Graduate Mechanical Design Engineer
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Graduate Mechanical Design Engineer
Location
Neepsend, Sheffield
Contract
Full-time, nine-month fixed-term contract
Salary
£33,000–£37,000 per annum, depending on experience and technical capability
Travel
Occasional travel within the UK
Preferred start
October 2026, with flexibility for the right candidate
About Rivelin Rail
Rivelin Rail develops measurement and monitoring technologies that help the rail industry manage wheel/rail friction more effectively. Our products combine mechanical engineering, electronics, sensing and data analysis to improve railway safety, reliability and maintenance.
We are a small, innovative engineering company, so this role offers the opportunity to take genuine ownership of designs, work closely with the technical team and see products progress from initial concept through manufacture, testing and deployment on operational railways.
The role
We are seeking a Graduate Mechanical Design Engineer to develop mounting systems, electronic enclosures and associated mechanical components for our railway monitoring products.
This is initially a nine-month fixed-term position, with the potential for extension or progression into a permanent role depending on business needs, project funding and individual performance.
You will take designs through the full development process: from requirements and early concepts to CAD models, engineering drawings, design substantiation, prototyping and manufacture. Many of the assemblies will be installed on trains or deployed in the field, so careful engineering, rigorous documentation and attention to safety and applicable standards will be central to the role.
This is a varied and practical position combining design engineering, analysis, prototyping and hands-on assembly. It would suit a graduate who enjoys solving real engineering problems, takes ownership of their work and is comfortable managing several activities at once.
Main responsibilities
- Develop mounting systems, electronic enclosures and mechanical assemblies from initial concept through to manufacture.
- Produce accurate 3D CAD models, assemblies and manufacturing drawings.
- Carry out engineering calculations and analyses, including:
- Bolted-joint calculations.
- Tolerance-stack analysis.
- Static finite element analysis of safety-critical or highly loaded components.
- Basic hand calculations to validate and support simulation results.
- Prepare for and participate in formal design reviews.
- Clearly document design decisions, assumptions, calculations, risks and verification evidence.
- Design components in accordance with relevant railway, mechanical and environmental requirements.
- Operate and maintain the company’s FDM 3D printers, including preparing builds and diagnosing routine print issues.
- Produce prototypes and low-volume components using FDM 3D printers.
- Support workshop, laboratory and field testing.
- Travel within the UK to support installation, testing and commissioning activities.
- Manage several concurrent tasks, communicate progress and prioritise work according to project needs.
- Contribute to the continued development of the company’s design, review and documentation processes.
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Person specification
Essential
- A degree in mechanical engineering, product design engineering, mechatronics or another closely related discipline.
- Good proficiency in a professional 3D CAD package, gained through university projects, a placement, employment or substantial personal projects.
- Experience of the mechanical design process, from concept development through CAD modelling and engineering drawings.
- Ability to produce clear technical drawings and documentation.
- Good attention to detail.
- Ability to explain and justify design decisions during technical reviews.
- Good problem-solving skills and a willingness to investigate issues rather than simply work around them.
- Ability to work independently while recognising when to seek advice or review.
- Good organisation, task management and prioritisation skills.
- A practical mindset and willingness to support assembly, testing and workshop activities.
- Willingness and ability to travel within the UK for testing, installation and commissioning.
Desirable
- Experience using Autodesk Fusion 360 for CAD, engineering drawings or finite element analysis.
- Experience carrying out bolted-joint calculations, tolerance-stack analysis or static FEM analysis.
- Experience designing components for vibration, shock, fatigue or demanding environmental conditions.
- Knowledge of design verification, risk assessment, configuration control or formal design-review processes.
- Familiarity with railway engineering, rail vehicles or another safety-critical or highly regulated industry.
- Experience taking a component or assembly into manufacture.
- Experience working with fabricators, machinists, sheet-metal suppliers or other manufacturing partners.
- Experience with FDM 3D printing, including slicing, material selection, printer operation and fault-finding.
- Practical workshop, prototype assembly or product-testing experience.
- Experience integrating mechanical designs with electronics, sensors, cables and connectors.
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Personal qualities
We are looking for someone who:
- Takes ownership of their work and follows tasks through to completion.
- Is diligent when working on components that could affect operational or safety performance.
- Balances analytical rigour with practical engineering judgement.
- Is curious, proactive and willing to ask questions.
- Notices potential problems and takes sensible action to address them.
- Responds constructively to design feedback and learns from testing and failures.
- Is comfortable working in a small company where priorities can evolve as projects progress.
- Enjoys seeing their designs manufactured, assembled, tested and used in the field.
What we offer
- The opportunity to take designs from a blank sheet through to deployment on operational railways.
- Early responsibility and meaningful ownership of components and assemblies.
- Direct involvement in innovative rail technology projects.
- Experience spanning CAD, analysis, prototyping, manufacture, testing and commissioning.
- A collaborative working environment in a growing startup engineering business.
- Opportunities to visit railway sites and see products operating in real-world conditions.
How to apply
Please send your CV and a brief covering email to m.watson@rivelinrail.com by 09/10/2026. Where possible, please include examples of relevant CAD, design or project work.
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